DiSabatino Easily Retains Manatee County Commission District 4 Seat

BRADENTON – Manatee County Commissioner Robin DiSabatino won a landslide victory over Tim Norwood in an open Republican primary to decide the district 4 seat. Disabatino won by a nearly 2-1 margin, receiving 3,792 votes to Norwood's 1,995.

DiSabatino, who was elected to the seat in 2010, has built a broad coalition of support that spans both sides of the aisle. Her constituent outreach and reputation for being accessible to the everyday citizen in a way that even small local offices have come to lack has made her very popular, especially with the most engaged members of the community.

A champion of small businesses, her work with the South County CRA ingratiated her to the district's business community, many of whom have complained that politicians are losing touch with small business owners as larger special interests continue to pour money into local campaigns.

The race was an open Republican Party primary. Because no other candidates were in the race and the winner would be awarded the seat on the board, all registered voters in District 4 were allowed to participate in the election regardless of party affiliation.